Apparatus for reducing to fine powder various materials and products such as enamels



June 16, J. L. M. THOMAS A 1,810,800 APPARATUS FOR REDUCING TO FINE POWDER VARIOUS MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS SUCH AS ENAMELS Filed May 15, 1930 @1 2. y am/ Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH LOUIS MARIE THOMAS, 013 MOREZ DU JURA, FRANCE APPARATUS FOR.REDUCING TO FINE POWDER VARIOUS MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS SUCH AS ENAMELS 1 7 Application filed May 15, 1930, Serial No. 452,784, and in France May 18, 1929. v

The present invention has for object an apparatus so constructed as to reduce to fine powder various materials or products, and particularly applicable to the manufacture of enamels in powder form. s

The apparatus in accordance with the invention substantially comprises a closed chamber divided in two superposed compartments by a conical sieve, at the center of which is arranged an anvil, secured in the bottom of the chamber, under the head of a hammer receiving vertical reciprocating displacements, for pulverizing the material in-.

Fig. 2 is a partlal vertical section, on an enlarged scale, made according to the axis of the pounding chamber.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a closed chamber which is constituted by two shells 1, 2, in the shapeof spherical caps or the like, rigidly assembled together by means of bolts 3 passing through holes formed in the flange of each of these caps.

Between the flanges of the said caps is clamped, by its circular edge, a conical sieve 4, in the center of which is mountedan anvil 5 which holds the sieve stationary and is socured in the lower shell 2 by any suitable means.

This sieve 4 and the anvil 5 thus divide the closed chamber constituted by the shells 1 and 2, in two superposed compartments 6 and 7 Within the upper compartment 6, which receives the products to be pounded through an opening 8 normally closed by a spring cover 9, is mounted, above the anvil 5, a

hammer 10 receiving vertical reciprocating displacements for effecting the pounding.

The lower compartment 7 which is adapted to receive the pounded products after passage through the orifices of the sieve 4 and to evacuate them, is, for that purpose, perforated at its bottom with channels 11 leading the product in powder form, either in a bag attached on the central socket 2 made in one piece with the cap 2, or in a selecting device dividing the products according to their size. I

In accordance with the presentinvention, the-rod 12 of the hammer 10 is perforated, according to its axis, with a channel 13, opening,'at its lower end, in the head of the hammer, and is connected, at its upper end,.to a source of compressed air, by means of a flexible pipe H connected to the union 15 of the rod 12. A j

This rod 12 passes, with some play, through a central socket 16 of the upper cap or shell 1, but it is nevertheless connected to the latter by a rubber sleeve 17 allowing the free displacement of the hammer, whilst ensuring the fluid-tight closure of the upper compartment 6.

The hammer 10 is pneumatically actuated by any suitable means. In the example illustrated, the rod 12 of this hammer terminates, at its upper end, by a piston 18, the displacements of which are controlled by a compressor diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, and comprising a cylinder 19 provided with anadjustable air inlet device, and a piston 20 actuated by a crank plate ,21 of a shaft 22, journalled in the frame 23 of the apparatus and carrying a driving pulley 24.

The closed chamber in-which the pounding and sifting operations are effected is, as clearly shown in F ig. 2, hung on springs 25 which are wound about the bolts 3 sliding in guides 26 of theirame'23 and which, bearing on the said frame and on the flange of the lower cap 2, are-compressed during the striking of the hammer.

This resilient suspension of the pounding and sitting chamber is completed by a second series of springs 27, also wound aboutthe bolts 3, but bearing under the frame 23 and on the head 28 of the said bolts, and thus braking the rising movement of the pounding and sitting chamber.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the mode of pneumatic control of the hammer allows, by the simple adjustment of the admission of air'in the compressor, of modifying the power of the blows delivered by the hammer.

It will also be understood thatthe admission of compressed air through the rod of the hammer allows of projecting on the sieve the materials subjected to the pounding operation, and of ensuring the evacuation of these latter as soon as the desired fineness is obtained. 1 p

In these conditions, this arrangemnet ensures the increase of the output and reduces in large proportions the formation of loam or slime prejudicious to the preservation of enamels.

Finally, the resilient suspension'device, by the vibrations of the pounding and sitting chamber, facilitates the sifting and thus concur to the increase of the output.

The arrangements above described are, of course, given by way of example only, the forms, materials and dimensionsof the constituent parts,as well as the details of construction can be modified, without departing thereby from the principle or" the invention.

The pounded materials, instead of being inserted in bags, when-issuing from the lower compartment 7, might for instance, be 'directed by suitable conduits, in a selecting device of any type comprising, in a casing re ceiving horizontal reciprocating. displacements, a number of sieves, themeshcs of which have different dimensions, so as to divide the pulverized materials according to the size of their constituent grains.

I claim a 1. Apparatus for reducing to fine powder various products comprising, a. closed chamber, springs for the suspension ofthis chamber, a conical sieve in the said chamber, dividing the latter in two superposed compartments, the upper compartment receiving the products to be pounded, and the lower com partment being provided withsuitable channels adapted to ensure the evacuation of the pulverized products, an anvil secured in the center of the sieve, a hammer having a hollow stem and adapted to reciprocate in the upper compartment and to, strike upon the anvil, means for actuating the said hammer, means for supplying, through the said not low stem of the hammer compressed air on the anvil, for projecting on the sieve the materials in proportion as they are pulverized, and ensuring the evacuation of these materials as soon as they have reached the desired degree of'fineness.

2'. Apparatus for reducing to fine powder various products, comprising, a closed chamber, springs for the suspension of this chamber, a conical sieve in the said chamber, a

dividing the latter in two superposed compartments, the upper compartment receiving the products to be pounded, and the lower compartment being provided with suitable channels adapted to ensure the evacuation of the pulverized products, an anvil secured in the center of the sieve, a socket in the center of the upper wall of the chamber, a hollow rod passing freely through this socket, a rubber sleeve secured on the said rod and the said socket for ensuring the closing of the latter, a hollow hammer at the lower end of the hollow rod and rigid with the latter, the said hammer being adapted to receive vertical reciprocating displacements and to strike upon the anvil, means for actuating the said ham mer, means for supplying compressed air on the anvil through the hollow rod of sa-id.ham'- mer for projecting the materials on the sieve in proportion as they are pulverized, and ensuring the evacuation of these materials through said channels as soon as they have reached the desired degree of fineness.

,3. Apparatus for reducing to fine powder variousproducts comprising, a closed chamber, springs for the suspension of thischamber, a conical sieve in the said chamber, dividing the latterin two superposed compartments, the upper compartment receiving the products to be pounded, and the lower compartment being provided With suitable channels adapted to ensure the evacuation of the pulverized products, an anvil secured in the center ofthe sieve, a socket in the center of theupper wall ofthe chamber, a hollow rod passing freely through this socket, a rubber sleeve secured onthe said rod and the saidsocket for ensurlng the closing ofthe latter, a hollow hammer at-the lower end of the hollow rod and rigid with the latter,-the saidhammer beingadapted to receive ver- :tical reciprocating displacements and to strike-upon the anvil, means for actuating the-said hammer, a flexible tube connected to the hollow rod' of the hammer, putting the latter in communication with the source of compressed air and adapted tolead this air under pressure on the anvil, for projecting the materials on the sieve inproportion as .they are pulverized and ensuring the evacua-i tion of these materials through said channels of the lower compartment as soon as they have reached thedesired degree of fineness; 3

The foregoing specification of my apparatus-for reducing to fine powder various materials and products,such as enamels signed by me this 6th day of May, 1930.-

JOSEPH LOUIS MARIE THOMAS. 

